The Rockies have a small-scale option for skiers and boarders with modest budgets.

Eight resorts much smaller than the state's nationally known ski areas have organized themselves as Gems of Colorado.

The resorts generally offer traditional-looking base lodges and reasonably priced ski schools for adults and kids. Several have trails that end at the same base in case you and the kids become separated on the way downhill.

The eight, spread around Colorado, are the day areas of Arapahoe Basin, Eldora, Loveland, Ski Cooper and Sunlight; Powderhorn and SolVista, with lodging at the base; and Monarch, with lodging nearby.

Each slope has its own personality. Loveland and Arapahoe Basin, for example, are perched at the Continental Divide, so you're skiing above many of the surrounding peaks and have splendid vistas. Sunlight is the choice for visitors staying in Glenwood Springs, where they can soak in hot mineral waters at day's end.

Powderhorn and Loveland, both celebrating 40th anniversaries this season, have festivities listed on their Web sites. Family-oriented Powderhorn, an area popular with Texans, is close to wineries and golf courses playable almost 10 months a year.

For a full description of each Gem, see www.coloradoski.com and click on Gems under Resorts. Each description links to the area's Web site.

Depending upon your vacation style, you can choose locales where there's little to do in the evening or riotous night life.

If après-ski is important, for example, stay in the Dillon-Frisco area and day-trip to Loveland and Ski Cooper.

For a quieter experience, lodge in historic Georgetown, not far from both Loveland and Arapahoe Basin.

SolVista, also popular with Texans, has gentle terrain welcomed by novice skiers and snowboarders.

Tougher challenges lie 20 minutes away at Winter Park. Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs has Ski, Swim and Stay packages (http://hotelcolorado.com). Eldora is 40 minutes from Boulder, a hip college town.

The resorts offer a limited number of free cards for discount lift tickets and some packages.

Early in the snow season, before they're snapped up by bargain hunters, the cards are available on the Gems page (click on Lodging & Lift Packages).

Deals may be as low as $39 per person, per day.

Lois Friedland is a freelance writer in Colorado.